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[26th. July, 2008|12:45 am] |
Just in case the storm is as bad as they are forcasting tomorrow I'll post all the rest of my bodice piccies now as I will lose connection if they are!
Views around the bodice:
    
The lining of the ruffle (piecing)
Buttonholes, handsewn (whoops, the image is upside down ;) )
The front opened to show the facing around the buttonhole side. The collar is lined with the same.
The meeting of the the collar lining to the bodice line. Note the super fine stitches given how fine the fabric really is (think very very fine taffeta for the weave).
I'm not sure if the row of stitch marks below the collar are original or from alterations, I need to look closer at it. |
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[25th. July, 2008|09:10 pm] |
Stage two of storage room makeover is commencing. I have a couple of columns and my first shelve and brackets for my books and dvds. I got white componants of the Elpha stystem as i can paint them silver if I get really annoyed with them.
Currently my iideal costume is that of Frankensteins Bride however. My fall is starting to be felt and I am lurching around thanks to the not inconsiderable pain in my bruised hip and coincidentally have my wrists bandaged to the fingers. Really, with the frizzy hair all I need is a hospital gown.
Hnghh hnghhh
Just practicing the grunts. |
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[25th. July, 2008|02:36 pm] |
Woot! Been working on Ange's birthday pressie. I got the most challenging part done today (shaping metal- no no forging was required just getting %#&%# pieces to fit together) and I just need to buy the next part. I'll try for that tomorrow. S. almost got part of her pressie on Wednesday but I was not quite quick enough to get it baggied in time. I hope she's ok with next week :)
I've also been playing about a bit with cardboard and making templates of things so I think I shall try and find some more of the board I have just been using as it'll be nice and solid and absorb a lot of resin. It might be the easiest method to get a nice rigid headdress for my Padme you see. If not it will be the last $5 of my Xmas vouchers used to but said product;)
Ummm yes my confidence in regards to non fabric costuming is starting to increase again. I've been a bit low because of additional health issues making my exsisting ones that much worse but I know my ability to work in those areas is only hampered by that. Not by an inability to understand how to. I know I have a lot of rote learning to remember what materials work with what (in much the same way I learnt weft from warp and a lowish level of chemistry of man made fibres and natural) so that I am more clearly understood when making queries but that's just time.
To remember styrene vs Sintra I remember opposites to what I expect: used to foam polystyrene but Styrene is a slick and shiny material. I'm used to shiny slippery PVC but sintra is foam board pvc.
I was also reading a Marc Silvestri sketchbook last night and was kind of surprised by one page. It was in regards to designing a character and sketching the element of costume from multiple angles to make sure it looks good from all directions. For me, I think in 3D anyway when designing so that boot (in this instance) would have been designed that way from the start in my head- it would then be a practice to get what's in my head to the page! I think that way of imagining really helps me in my designing or deconstruction process. It certainly helps me visualise the internal structures of a garment because I'm thinking of the interior layers as well as what can be seen.
And thinking about it I recall trying to visualise multiple views of a garment when I would do fan drawings so it isn't inate but something I deveoloped over time by studying and making scales miniatures for dolls etc. I think this is why it is very hard for me to describe how to do something to others |
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[25th. July, 2008|01:08 am] |
This is my Victorian bodice. Early 1890s I think given the fish darts, the sleeve size and the ruffle detail. More pics tomorrow. |
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[24th. July, 2008|11:42 pm] |
Sigh, photobucket maintainance means I cannot upload my photos of the bodice. I'm still not sure if it is worthwhile restoring it, unlike the skirt that was part of the lot the lining is not so fragile that folding it is likely to cause tears.... but it is still fragile compared to even the thread I would be using (it is pure cotton and probably as old as the the alteration thread. I will though unpick the cuffs as they are about to tear through the lining in a short while.
Luckily though the lining is striped and the side that was let out means I have a clearer view of the shape of the bodice for taking a pattern. The sleeves and ruffle are going to be a bit harder to do.
I have now had a really good look at the velvet that is used on the bodice and I hate to say it but it really is closest to a dense but shortpiled rayon velvet. I've only found one cotton velvet that came close and that is used for my pouch in the SCA/Winnowed Spinach groups. A good grade velveteen gives a good close approximation too in that the pile is generally very hard to push flat. In my bodice you cannot push it flat or open to see the ground underneath. Unfortunately most of our velveteens are woven too loosely so the pile comes away too quickly. There are no wear spots on any of this velvet that I can see.
The damask used for the body of the garment is really crisp but extremely light and fine. Rather hard to describe. But in crispness it is similar to my silk taffeta and in fineness.... well it's about half the weight and my taffeta is quite light compared to the poly taffeta you can get rather easily.
The facings are in a matching coloured silk like a habotai, again ever so slightly crisper but otherwise the saem as what you can buy in shops bow.
I think the bone from the CB was placed in the front during the alterations as it just doesn't match up with the rest of the placement at all.
The boning cases all appear to be woven as a continuous length of tube and there is tissue paper in them.
The ruffle on the bodice was made and hand sewn in through all layers, it appears to have been gatehred as it was sewn.
The self trim on the bottom of the bodice is entirely detatchable and demonstrates just how crisp the fabric is. It is a strip of fabric folded to create pleat lines and they are not tacked in place, they are crisp enough to remain as they are. |
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[24th. July, 2008|06:42 pm] |
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My gothic plate is partially shaped, but I really need a heat gun to get the right curves. The stock pot I didn't fall on is much too small and the foam pvc doesn't stay hot enough once taken out. that said it might work for my Mara shin guards. If the hockey ones really keep giving me grief. |
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[24th. July, 2008|12:57 pm] |
Right. My 1890s bodice. I have noted where all the modifications were made in the 1950s or later (I'm guessing based on thread type and button type) and the old stitch marks are still there for the original placement.
Given this bodice does not have a provenance of any note (I think it wound up in a wardrobe dept.) who here who works with textiles would think it work repairing? I have some old cottons one of which would be a near match for the thread used, but I would be more inclined to use somehting unbotrusive yet clearly not original to make all the repairs opaque.
I'm not sure what buttons to use, I may have to do some research on what would be used on a bodice of this type, period and material. Pity they didn't use the original buttons when they made the modifications.
I shall take photos today. I am going to take a pattern from the bodice and the skirt as they are so tiny but in beautiful proportion they should be able to be scaled up. |
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[23rd. July, 2008|01:36 am] |
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GIP. |
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[22nd. July, 2008|02:04 pm] |
I had my first meal in about 5 days so I am starting to build up energy resources again to actually sew or draw or do soemthing. It's quite nice to know that in a day or so I'll be back to fairly normal again.
So my plans are to work on designing a few props for the Masque, get my Masque notes sorted and start really learning lines now that we have a pattern of speech and movement worked out for most of them, work on final ideas for my costume.
I will at least mark out costume pieces for my Padme and Mara non-fabric peices as I am not likely to be up to making anything for a few days yet.
A proper list of costumes for Geddon based on what i really most want to do, what I can actually do and how much time for each element I'd need.
A list of materials needed for each project this year will also be needed so I can sort out finances and budget week by week. |
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[21st. July, 2008|03:16 am] |
Just a heads up, as I am paying for a website to be hosted already I'm not really able to pay for an lj account on top of that and it looks like LJ is getting rid of the old Basic accounts and bringing in a new account (same name) with advertising. As I do not want to be associated with any products I have not endorsed I will probbaly transfer my journal to my site.
Pity, I have a love hate relationship with the online community in places like LJ. But we are living in a world where change happens more frequently than in previous generations. So shifting away probably isn't such a big deal. I'll save all my old entries and decide where to go from there. I mean heck, new forums crop up all the time, I'm not on the same ones I was four years ago after all ;)
http://community.livejournal.com/lj_2008/4376.html |
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[21st. July, 2008|12:45 am] |
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Sewing Sunday was spent mostly lying on the sofa being fed tea :) |
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[19th. July, 2008|11:44 pm] |
Sigh. A happy one :)
Thank you to all my friends for throwing and attending my lovely surprise half birthday. It really was a surprise as you may have been able to tell by the frizzy hair the lack of visual aides and oh yeah, the jammie bottoms ;) It took me a while to understand what was so surprising. What we had more people turn up to masque practice than usual? excellent- oh. Actually there are people here who are not SCA folks at all..... tick... tick... tick.. Bingo, she's got it ;)
There was such a lovely variety of people who turned up and I only didn't cry because it was such a surprise. I hope going bright pink was a suitable substitute.
There is a slice of mousse/pie/cake that shall be kept until I am allowed to eat again (yeah, interesting health week) and it shall be fiercely guarded with pointy things until I am allowed it. Same with the muffin likewise guarded from those wot eat the gluten and the meat and can eat any darn thing they like at any time!
Ehem.
The knitted crown shall be worn tomorrow, I promise, I will have pins and a bun to wrap it around. You must understand how completely daggy I looked with the frizzies and the fuzzy jersey and the no dyed lashes and brows I really was not feeling terribly pretty in the slightest.
G.'s knitted glubs arrived, yay! Green and brown and warm goodiness and they shall be carefully kept away from as much of the food as possible.
I haz a voucher to spend as I like at the big Book Chain here :D Probably will be spent on a few crafty items or some Pratchett I may just need to read. Maybe the one with You in it. ;)
More patches for the quilt! Yay :) Pretty pretty fabrics from K. and G. knows me too well with the heart and the white fur ;) and the laurel :)
And um.. yes.. very cool but far too much but I love it anyway... And I never expected it but it is indeed on display in the lounge. Currently vanquishing a (relatively giant chicken) is the Female Templar. Thank you so much L. W. and I and even little L. for the customisation of the box ;) We have been having fun with posing Avvie on the fruit bowl (Vanquisher of Citrus) or with some fluffy toy ducks....
So big thank you again and hopefully we'll see a few more of you at practices for the Masque (sad rehersal was the first in the space and the first real run through with more than a few cast members at a time.) |
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[18th. July, 2008|08:41 pm] |
Sorry for those last two posts;) Been feeling more than a little unwell for a few weeks and now I seem to have caught an actual bug just to make it even harder to sew to schedule;)
The posts are now back in my private journal where they belonged. This is why I have the two separate; the medical stuff is just so banal ;)
Anyway, my machine seems to be getting better and better and I will test it later today to see how it goes with some other fabric. |
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[16th. July, 2008|07:53 pm] |
In other news, I just bought some more fabric. Some of my friends will joke it is my favourite fabric. It's only a slight exaggeration;) It's easy to cut and to sew and the effect when worn is pretty amazing to be sure. Sadly of no use to SCA purposes so it can't really be called my absolute favourite.
But it's definitely up there ;) |
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| Auck'Geddon Cosplay |
[16th. July, 2008|07:51 pm] |
I have just spoken on the phone to Bill and we are starting planning for Auck'Geddon Now.
There are a couple of changes that should be for the better. The first is I have asked to judge in the morning rather than the afternoon. This means we do not have any pressure to get to the main stage with no time to spare. The judging forms can be taken away and perused with plenty of time. We are looking at a 10am start so people will be able to get through the doors in time as well. Discretion will be applied if something unforeseen happens at the door that day!
Because of this there will be a couple of hours between judging and presentation in the panel room (more on that later) and Bill has suggested it might be possible to do a presentation of skits that we do not have time for int he contest. You know, those 4 min skits that have to be chopped and edited to fit in to the main stage schedule.
As this is literally breaking news there has not been any official yes or no but Bill and myself are keen on the idea. No idea yet how tied in to the contest this would be. It may wind up being totally separate.
I have a month to get all the rules and site organised so any input from you guys would be appreciated. Not all ideas can be used of course, given site and event rules and needs but the more ideas the better :)
The animation screening will happen in one room while the events happen in another. This worked well for Christchurch and Wellington this year which is why Bill has included it for Auckland.
If anyone has any ideas for what to use the room for on other days (working around VA panels etc.) please let myself know via the cosplay email until the end of the month (armageddon.cosplay@gmail.com) as Bill will not be able to respond in person before then. After then you can probably email Bill directly. |
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[15th. July, 2008|12:53 pm] |
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Hooray! Stretch stitches work fine on my Janome which means I am all good to go for the projects I bought it for :) But the second I hear any sort of noise like I heard before i will take it in for a service. I will probably get it serviced in November anyway. |
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[13th. July, 2008|05:14 pm] |
Testing Semagic on S.'s computer. Seems to be working nicely :)
Knackered but I got a lot of sewing done by keeping head down and not taking tea breaks. Ehem.
I have my Padme Geonosis top sewn up :) Well my first run of it. The fabric I used has the right texture and is nice and supportive but a tad white;) Tea dye will fix that. Next the pants. But I'm taking a break. |
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